Majed al-Ansari denies Iran's claims that Qatar held three military pilots captive after their warplanes crashed.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Majed al-Ansari, denied Iran's accusation that the country held three military pilots captive after their planes crashed in early March. Al-Ansari described the Iranian claims as 'completely baseless, false and illogical,' noting that Qatar had already handed over the remains of one pilot to an Iranian delegation in April. Iranian General Mohammad Bagherzadeh claimed the three pilots—Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian, and Omran Behraveshian—survived the crash and were held secretly for six months. In response, al-Ansari stated that the planes were targeted because they violated Qatar's sovereignty, and he characterized Iran's request for Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps involvement as a 'media ploy.' The military engagement occurred during an Iranian attack on the Al Udeid airbase. Qatar emphasized its commitment to defending its territory while prioritizing diplomatic dialogue to resolve the ongoing conflict.